National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has gazetted Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the Deputy President-Elect.
Wetang’ula made the announcement in a Special gazette notice dated October 18, 2024, following the House vote on approval of the nominee.
“IT IS notified that pursuant to Article 149 (1), as read together with Article 122 of the Constitution of Kenya, the National Assembly has, at its sitting held on Friday, 18th October, 2024 in the National Assembly Chamber at the main Parliament Building, voted in favor of the nomination of KITHURE KINDIKI (PROF) E.G.H to fill the vacancy in the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” the notice reads.
This is despite an order by the High Court that suspended the Senate’s resolution to uphold former DP Rigathi Gachagua‘s impeachment motion held on Thursday, October 17.
Kindiki’s nomination during a special sitting in Parliament on Friday was overwhelmingly supported by a majority of 236 Members of Parliament (MPs), with no legislator opposing or abstaining.
Speaker Wetang’ula had earlier informed the House that he had received President William Ruto‘s nomination of the next DP, with the members of the National Assembly voting through a roll call method.
The lawmakers were to initially vote electronically as per the House Business Committee’s directive, but the electronic voting system malfunctioned.
Earlier, Wetang’ula while conveying Kindiki’s nomination as the next DP to the house noted that the nomination aligns with Article 149 of the Constitution.
Wetang’ula announces Kindiki’s nomination as DP
The Speaker said that it requires the President to nominate a candidate to fill a vacant deputy president position within 14 days.
“According to the provision of Standing Order 52 (1), I wish to report to the house that today morning, I have received a message from the President Regarding the nomination of Prof. Kithure Kindiki, to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, following the impeachment of the previous office holder,” said Wetang’ula.
He added, “As you are aware, article 149 (1) of the Constitution provides as follows; ‘within 14 days after a vacancy in the Office of the DP arises, the President shall nominate a person to fill the vacancy, and the National Assembly shall vote on the nomination within 60 days after receiving it.”
Also Read: Ruto Nominates Deputy President After Gachagua Ouster
The announcement of Prof. Kindiki’s nomination as the next DP by Speaker Wetang’ula came after he conveyed a communication on the decision of the Senate on the proposed removal from office of former DP Gachagua.
Wetang’ula noted that his Senate counterpart Speaker Amason Kingi on Thursday night declared the position vacant following Gachagua’s impeachment.
This came after senators upheld the five of the eleven impeachment charges against the former deputy president.
Having been approved by the National Assembly, Kindiki now waits for his swearing in before the Chief Justice or another judge, if the Chief Justice is unavailable, according to the Constitution. This is if no court order will stop the process.
Kindiki congratulated
Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS) Musalia Mudavadi is among high-ranking politicians who have congratulated Kindiki for his nomination as the next DP.
Also Read: Kithure Kindiki Profile: Education Background, Family, Career and Politics
Mudavadi in a statement said that Kindiki has steadfastly supported President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza Administration to deliver on the promises of transforming the livelihoods of all Kenyans across the country.
“I take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Prof. Kithure Kindiki for his nomination by His Excellency President William Ruto, PhD, C.G.H, and his approval by the National Assembly, to be the next Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. I share in the President’s confidence that Prof Kindiki has diligently served as Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Administration of National Government,” said Mudavadi.
He added, “I look forward to working with Prof. Kindiki in the challenging task of nation building, anchored on the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Kenya’s Vision 2030.”
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